San Felipe Neri remembered him on social networks with this image at the doors of the school.
His sudden death has marked the feelings of the Marianist community and that of several generations of basketball players in the capital.
The sudden loss of Paco Sanz leaves the Marianist community of San Felipe Neri and the world of Cadiz basketball an orphan.
Eduardo Castellanos directs the Club Deportivo de San Felipe Neri and has worked with Paco Sanz until a few days ago, when he quit. He defines it as “a great person, a very good person. Sow with a smile on your face. All I can say are good things about him.” He remembers the importance of the Marianist Olympiad for him, “it marked him a lot and when he was first in Zaragoza we were very happy for the girls but also for him” and for the work he had done. Eduardo Castellanos assumes, while assimilating the recent loss, that “there are many generations of his players who are blown away.”
We collect some messages from people who have known Paco Sanz closely. As Carlos Lucero, a former student and basketball coach from San Felipe:
Paco Sanz was one of those people that you are always glad to see. Peace personified, constant listening skills. He didn’t speak much but when he spoke, he illuminated. Always with his wonderful smile from ear to ear. An educator in sports and passionate about basketball.
He dedicated his life to teaching and he always did it from the respect, the knowing how to be and the temperance that characterized him. With his camera and his school tracksuit, he didn’t need more to be happy.
Personally, I will always be grateful to him for thousands of lived moments and anecdotes. It has gone quietly, as it lived. We will not forget it. You will have done something very well so that today we are all broken friend. Go organizing the team up there because one day we will see each other again and we will go to the Olympiad. We will not forget you Paco. Rest in peace.
It also reminds him of María Loreto. Former student of San Felipe Neri and former basketball player of Paco Sanz:
For me, talking about Paco is talking about an extraordinary person. A life devoted to basketball that has filled us generation after generation of moments. A reference for everyone. His teams were part of his life, his San Felipe family rather, and that is how he has always made us feel.
We should be grateful for his life because he has filled it with experiences. It has helped us in our worst moments, it has supported us and it has lifted us up. Ay Paquito! You have made us feel better people. You have helped us to trust ourselves and to grow our day by day.
I, who was lucky enough to share training with you as a player and as a coach, I know how important this was for you. Your passion and your desire to fight for women’s basketball and make it a benchmark make you even bigger. A discreet person who did not need words, his gestures and his look said it all. Full support. Always giving without asking for anything in return.
Thanks for everything Paco, you are eternal. Here you leave your players who will miss you a lot and who know that from heaven you will be taking care of us and preparing quintets for us.
From the social media profiles of San Felipe Neri they have also recalled the figure of their coach:
The most terrible news, Paco Sanz Lustres has passed away. Paco is the most discreet, loyal and helpful person that could exist. Basketball coach, passionate photographer, vocational educator … “today the world is a little less beautiful.”
DEP Paco Sanz
.
